Baseball is full of odd stats, fascinating records, and jaw-dropping achievements.
It’s why we love this game and will continue to do so for the rest of our days.
In one of the most fascinating statistical coincidences you will ever see, the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Trayce Thompson hit three home runs in the same game over the weekend.
What’s the special part, the one that makes it a statistical coincidence?
All of the blasts registered the exact same exit velocity.
Trayce Thompson pulls off an incredible feat!
(MLB x @GoogleCloud) pic.twitter.com/5iex8479zO
—MLB Stats (@MLBStats) April 2, 2023
It’s the first time in the Statcast era (since 2015) that has happened in the same game.
Thompson now has three homers in the early going, eight RBI, and three runs scored.
Yes: the only times he has crossed the plate is because he has driven himself in.
Thompson has legitimate power, so the three home runs aren’t exactly a mirage.
The 32-year-old slugged .537 in 239 plate appearances with the Dodgers last season.
Contact is his problem: he struck out at an alarming 36 percent rate in the same time frame.
In any case, the Dodgers helped him get his career back on track last year after being a castoff by other organizations.
They recognized his potential, even though they knew he was going to strike out a ton.
Given some injuries and free agent losses the Dodgers had in the offseason, having a powerful outfielder like Thompson is always useful.
We can’t get over the fact his three homers on Sunday came at the same exit velocity.
Talk about consistency: obviously, he has worked on his stance, mechanics, and balance and is able to produce powerful swings.
With a little bit of help of luck, we had one of our favorite oddities of the Statcast era.
It goes to show that when Thompson is on a run, he can be a really dangerous hitter.
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